In 1985, he began managing his father's portfolio of 4,000 New Jersey apartments.[1][2] He founded Kushner Companies—headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey—and became its chairman.[1][2] In 1999, he won the Ernst & Young New Jersey Entrepreneur of the Year award. At the time, Kushner Companies had grown to over 10,000 residential apartments, a homebuilding business, commercial and industrial properties and a community bank.[6]